Metabolic programming defines oxygen-sensitive subpopulation hierarchies and patterning in collective invasion

Phenotypic heterogeneity-distinct molecular and behavioral variations within a population-significantly influences collective invasion and tumor progression. Here, we use a molecular approach to explore how the underlying metabolic heterogeneity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) influences invasion and pack patterning. Assessment of three-dimensional (3D) pack patterning revealed invasive heterogeneity across NSCLC cell lines and patient-derived samples. Flow cytometry identified IL13RA2 as a biomarker for invasive potential, enabling isolation of subpopulations with distinct invasive characteristics. By integrating a cell surface biomarker (IL13RA2±) with mitochondrial membrane potential (TMRM), we identified and isolated three distinct subpopulations. Two-dimensional (2D) analyses revealed differences in mitochondrial polarity and transcriptional programs associated with migration and oxygensensitivity. In 3D, these subpopulations invaded with distinct patterns, from contiguous circular packs to structured chains. Assessments under varied oxygen tension demonstrated that oxygen availability and subpopulation metabolism together influence collective invasion patterning. When recombined at ratios recapitulating the original population, both stochastic and opportunistic cooperative dynamics emerged, dependent on subpopulation composition and oxygen levels. Our molecular approach, integrating cell surface and metabolic characteristics, enables the isolation of unique subpopulations and demonstrates that phenotypic and metabolic heterogeneity, population composition, and oxygen availability collectively pattern invasion packs and drive collective invasion.